Equipment

Strong 2017 leads Daimler to focus on uptime, expansion, and connectivity in 2018

PORTLAND, OR – Capturing nearly 40% of the North American Class 6-8 truck market, it was a banner year for Daimler Trucks North America, and according to president and CEO Roger Nielsen, the company isn’t done yet. Daimler sold more than 470,000 trucks worldwide last year to the tune of more than CAN $57.7 billion in revenue and a 6.7% return on sales. Nielsen credits the strong year on sales of the New Cascadia, with 46,000 orders for the truck in the first year. That number is a significant boost over the first-year sales of the original model which sold about 25,000 units in its debut year.

Welcome to the land of ELD confusion

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The early days of enforcing a U.S. mandate for electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been marred by confusion over the workings of individual devices and more. Kerri Wirachowsky, director of the roadside inspection program for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), refers to the example of one fleet that had installed Automatic On Board Recording Devices (AOBRDs) last February. Wirachowsky At first glance that device should be accepted, because it was installed before the mandate took hold on Dec. 18, and would be legal until Dec. 16, 2019. The problem is that the user hadn’t been able to reach the supplier to upload the related hours of service functions, she said during the Omnitracs Outlook user conference. That meant a ticket, and more frantic calls to the supplier.

UltraLoft takes Model 579 to new heights

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Peterbilt has unveiled a new 80-inch integral sleeper known as the UltraLoft, adding an array of features to the Model 579 that improve comfort for team drivers and enhance aerodynamics in the process. “It has that distinctive Peterbilt style,” said Scott Newhouse, chief engineer, also referring to added storage, lower and upper bunk space, and the widest mattress in the industry. “The driver experience starts when you’re in the cab. It’s a big, open space with plenty of headroom.” The upper mattress itself measures 82 x 36 inches, while the lower bunk is an expansive 85 x 42 inches. “The lower bunk can actually handle a seven-foot-tall person,” Newhouse said.

Kenworth hydrogen hybrid almost road-ready

SEATTLE, WA -- Kenworth is the latest player in the battle to get to zero emissions, testing a T680 electric hybrid day cab with a hydrogen fuel cell. The Kenworth T680 ZECT hydrogen hybrid is being tested in Seattle. The US $7 million Class 8 regional hauler has been in the design phase since October 2016, working to be an alternative-fuel drayage vehicle for ports like Long Beach and Los Angeles in California -- where emissions are being restricted -- and an inner-city delivery truck for places like London, England, where emissions are set to be banned outright by 2050.